In the long history of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the early revolutionary history of the Communist Party of China, many heroes emerged. Hong'an County, as one of the important birthplaces of the Chinese Revolution, has cultivated countless admirable revolutionary soldiers. This story takes place in the 40s of the 20th century, an era of deep baptism of war, and the whole country is shrouded in gunsmoke and blood. Zheng Guozhong, a child of an ordinary peasant family born in Hong'an County, Hubei Province, with a desire to change his fate, joined the revolution at the age of 16 and became a Red Army soldier. Eighteen years later, he is a glorious deputy commander, but behind his bravery is a long-lost family affection and a deep attachment to his hometown.
In 1947, when the spring breeze blew through the hills of Dabie Mountain, Zheng Guozhong, as the deputy commander of the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Field Army, marched to Hubei with Liu Deng's army. As the troops marched, his heart became more and more turbulent, because this march was not only a journey of battle, but also a journey back to his homeland. After 18 years of baptism of war, he has grown from a young boy to an iron-blooded soldier, and he has always had a voice calling in his heart - home.
Zheng Guozhong decided to leave the team temporarily when the troops were close to his hometown and go to his familiar and unfamiliar home alone. He followed the vague route in his memory and came to an old wooden door. The stone steps in front of the door are covered with moss, and the years have left a strong mark here.
He took a deep breath, calmed his excitement, and knocked softly on the door. The door slowly opened, and an old woman with gray hair stood behind it, her face depicting the vicissitudes of time, which was the mother he missed day and night.
"Sir, who are you looking for?" The old woman's voice trembled, and her eyes were full of wariness.
Zheng Guozhong was speechless for a while, his eyes were moist, he almost choked up, and said in a trembling voice: "Mother, I am your son, Zheng Guozhong." ”
The old woman was stunned, her eyes were full of disbelief, and then tears rolled in her eyes: "My son has long been ......" Her voice trembled, unable to continue.
"Mother, I'm not dead, I've been fighting all the time, just to be able to come back to see you one day." Zheng Guozhong knelt in front of his mother, tears flowing uncontrollably.
The mother trembled her hands and touched Zheng Guozhong's face, as if to confirm that all this was not a hallucination. "Zhong'er, is it really you? My Zhong'er is back? Her voice was filled with excitement and unease.
In the following time, Zheng Guozhong and his mother recounted their experiences over the years, from the cruelty of the battlefield to the sacrifice of their comrades, every story brought tears to the old man's eyes. But it is also a spiritual healing, and the backlog of years has found an outlet in each other's hearts. Cheng told his mother that despite the untold suffering caused by the war, it also allowed him to grow up to be a person who could protect his family and country.
A few days later, Zheng Guozhong needed to return to the army and continue the fight with his comrades. On the night before leaving, the mother and son sat on the kang in the old house, and the mother prepared a sumptuous home-cooked meal for him, which was simple but full of strong family affection. Zheng Guozhong held his mother's hand tightly, and there was an oath and reluctance in his eyes: "Mother, when this is over, I will come back, and we will no longer be separated." ”
The mother nodded, her eyes firm and gentle: "I will wait for you, no matter how long." ”
The next day, Zheng Guozhong set out on his way back to the battlefield in the morning light. His back looked particularly firm in the morning sun, and the old wooden door closed quietly, as if silently guarding a promise waiting for his return.
The story of Zheng Guozhong is not only a family reunion that spans the war and years, but also a tribute to the perseverance of ordinary people in that turbulent era. Everyone who struggles to survive in the torrent of history carries the double weight of family and country feelings and personal destiny. The reunion between Zheng Guozhong and his mother symbolizes the interweaving of war and peace, a remembrance of the past, and a sustenance for the future. As the poet said, history is a long river, and each of us is a boat in that river, carrying the warmth of home and working towards the other side of peace.